An internship is a period of guidance and training, carried out in a working environment and aimed at getting young people into the world of work.
It does not work like an employment relationship.

Extracurricular internships are aimed at helping young people with their professional decisions through a period of training in a productive environment and therefore with direct knowledge of the world of work. This type of internship is governed by autonomous Provinces and Regions: however, common minimum standards have been established nationwide referring, for example, to the qualifying elements of the internship, how the intern will carry out their work, and the minimum allowance. These standards can be found in the “Internship Guidelines”.

Extracurricular internships in Emilia Romagna can be carried out by anyone who has fulfilled their right-duty to education and training (Article 1 of d.l. 15 aprile 2005, n. 76).

Internships are not available for qualified or accredited professionals to practise regulated professions, for typical activities, i.e. restricted to the profession.
All interns are entitled to receive an allowance for taking part from their host company of
at least €450 a month. The entire amount shall be provided subject to a 70% monthly attendance rate on the training programme.
If interns are already receiving forms of income support, the internship allowance:

• is partly released until it reaches the minimum allowance amount in case of suspended workers.
• can be combined with any welfare collected (NASPI) in case of unemployment.

To activate the internship, the employer hosting the intern needs to enter into an appropriate agreement with a sponsor and together they need to draw up an individual training programme for the intern, establishing the learning goals for the course, with reference to the standard skills and knowledge of the regional qualification system. The activation procedures are carried out on the dedicated “Lavoro per te” online platform.
During the course, the intern must be guaranteed access to any knowledge and skills required to achieve the goals set in the training programme. The intern will have a company tutor who will shadow them at the company as well as a tutor from the sponsor in charge of following any educational and organisational aspects of the internship.

All interns are also provided with insurance against accidents and for third-party civil liability, as well as suitable training on environmental and accident prevention.